OK, first I was not addressing wayward members or repatriation, just going to the national which I believe anyone can attend. No need to be a member as far as I know. But either way, the reason for going is simple, overall, that group (like this one on this forum) simply has some of the best people I have ever had the privilege to meet and be associated with in my life. Outstanding folks. Not every last one perhaps but it is easy enough to avoid the evil ones (I'll put up a selfie if that would help identify 'Evil #1 ).
But really, the group is a cross- section right through the country that is mostly 'us': middle class, older middle age people who have perfectly normal, everyday lives and happen to own the same bike (or used to anyway). Just nice people.
Over the Christmas week, I spent two days with two couples that I met through COG- the nicest people on the planet, all of them. Yesterday I spend the day with another couple planning out events through 2014 in our local areas (our areas adjoin so we are trying to divide up events so they do not overlap) and that too was a great day- again, nicest people on the planet.
So that is the reason to attend the rally. Hang around after hours, usually in the parking lot, with a group of people you would walk across a hot bed of coals to hang out with. Sit down at the banquet with a couple of friends and usually make a couple more (usually something like 10, 12 to a table). Who knows, you could even hear a telling of The Cat Joke (TM).
As far as the recent squabble on the other forum, that is specific to a few of us, is limited to the forum itself and never spills over to COG in the flesh, and I think things will improve there too. But at any rate, not a single one of the people I mentioned spending time with is involved with that and actually, most COG folk do not post on the forum at all. So the forum, and especially any contentiousness content is simply not representative of COG 'in the flesh'. For all the recent 'hubbub', and I am right smack in the middle of it, I am quite active in COG and planning on traveling 750 miles to attend the national; why would I do that if it was even 1% like the that squabble?
By the way, no need to attend the whole event or even attend the banquet- I believe anyone can stop by, spend an evening hanging out and meeting some people for absolutely no cost. COG is non- profit and not about money; these events are mostly break- even and so no one is interested in 'gouging' anyone. So as I said, stop by for a day or two and meet some people without even paying anything at all.
That's why to attend the rally. Or even stop by and say hello if it is not too far from you.
Brian
Not a funny. One, what's a 'wayward' member? Two, repatriation. What does that mean? I'm sure the riding will be good. That section of the country has some very good roads. Western Carolina, eastern Tenn., and southwest VA.
